Conte: Morata has to continue this way to be a great striker

A brilliant hat-trick from Alvaro Morata helped Premier League champions Chelsea to a dominant win over Stoke City, their third in succession away from home this season.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: "It was a good day, a good result for us. Stoke are a really good team and very strong.

"It was very difficult to win here but we deserved to win the game. We started well and scored early and were in control of the game. I repeat, it's not simple to win away against them."

In a week when Diego Costa's return to Atletico Madrid dominated the headlines, Morata showcased his credentials as their number one striker.

"He played a good game, a really good performance. Now he has to continue this way to be a great striker," Conte said.

Conte took Marcos Alonso off in the 59th minute, moments after the Spaniard got caught up in several tussles with Mame Biram Diouf.

With Alonso on a yellow card, he clipped the legs of Diouf and was perhaps fortunate to be still on the field.

Conte insisted the substitution was "tactical" and not made out of fear of the midfielder getting sent off, while Stoke City manager Mark Hughes said: "Maybe referee Mike Dean allowed Alonso the benefit of the doubt.

"He didn't get sent off but was taken off by manager Antonio Conte as a result of a fortuitous decision."